Heucherella plant named &#39;Cracked Ice&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Heucherella  plant substantially as shown and described, characterized by medium size, palmatifid leaves with prominent sinuses, silver veiled leaves that change background colors from purple tinted green to copper tinted, prominent dark veins in summer through winter leaves, a low mounding plant habit, grows equally well in full sun or filtered shade in the Pacific Northwest, and excellent vigor.

BOTANICAL DENOMINATION

Heucherella

VARIETY DESIGNATION

‘Cracked Ice’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHeucherella and given the cultivar name of ‘Cracked Ice’. Heucherella isin the family Saxifragaceae. Heucherella ‘Cracked Ice’ originated from acontrolled cross between Heuchera K326-5 (a proprietary unreleasedHeuchera hybrid), as the seed parent, and Tiarella 58-7 (a proprietaryunreleased Tiarella hybrid), as the pollen parent.

Compared to the seed parent, Heuchera K326-5 (unpatented), the newcultivar has leaves that are more lobed and flowers that are whiterather than purple pink.

Compared to the pollen parent, Tiarella 58-7 (unpatented), the newcultivar has silver with rather than green leaves.

Compared to Heucherella ‘Quicksilver’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,081, thenew cultivar has leaves that are more deeply lobed and with more dark,prominent veins.

Compared to Heucherella ‘Gunsmoke’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,395, the newcultivar has a smaller habit that is tighter and denser, shorterflowers, leaves that are more silver, glossier, and have round sinusesin terminal lobes on mature leaves.

This new Heucherella is distinguished by:

1. medium size, palmatifid leaves with prominent sinuses,

2. silver veiled leaves that change background colors from purple tintedgreen to copper tinted,

3. prominent dark veins in summer through winter leaves

4. a low mounding plant habit,

5. grows equally well in full sun or filtered shade in the PacificNorthwest, and

6. excellent vigor.

This new cultivar has been reproduced only by asexual propagation(division and tissue culture). Each of the progeny exhibits identicalcharacteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by divisionand tissue culture using standard micropropagation techniques withterminal and lateral shoots, as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that theforegoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The presentinvention has not been evaluated under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environmentwithout a change in the genotype of the plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a one-year-old Heucherella ‘Cracked Ice’ growing in theground in the garden in late fall in sun in Canby, Oreg.

FIG. 2 shows a one-year-old Heucherella ‘Cracked Ice’ in flower, plantedin the ground in a trial bed in the sun in the summer in Canby, Oreg.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Heucherella cultivarbased on observations of two-year-old specimens growing in one galloncontainers in a cold greenhouse in March in Canby, Oreg. Canby is Zone 8on the USDA Hardiness map. Temperatures range from a high of 95 degreesF. in August to an average of 32 degrees F. in January. Normal rainfallin Canby is 42.8 inches per year. The color descriptions are all basedon The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, fifth edition.

-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—basal rosette, herbaceous perennial.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4 to 9.        -   Size.—14 cm tall from top of the foliage to the ground and            31 cm wide.        -   Habit.—mounding.        -   Vigor.—excellent.        -   Roots.—fibrous, freely branching, fine, and white in color.            Roots develop easily from cuttings.-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—simple.        -   Arrangement.—rosette.        -   Shape.—ovate.        -   Lobing/division.—5 to 7 lobes palmately parted with the            terminal the longest and most deeply parted usually with            round sinuses that cup upwards; shallower secondary lobes.        -   Venation.—palmate.        -   Margins.—crenate.        -   Apex.—mucronulate.        -   Base.—cordate, lobes sometimes curl upwards.        -   Blade size.—grows to 14.5 cm long and 9 cm wide.        -   Surface texture.—glandular both surfaces.        -   Petiole description.—grows to 13 cm long and 2 mm wide,            glandular hairs, Greyed Orange 177A.        -   Leaf color.—spring and fall, topside, between Black 202C and            White NN155C with veins Greyed Purple N186B and margins            Greyed Purple 197B, bottom side closest to Purple N77C;            summer, winter, topside closest to Black 202C with veins and            edges Greyed Purple N186A, bottom side closest to Purple            N77C; older shaded leaves Green N137B with veil of Greyed            Green 190B and main veins Greyed Purple 187A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Size.—grows to 3.5 cm wide and 26 cm long.        -   Type.—raceme.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 70.        -   Number of raceme.—7 in first spring flush, repeat blooms.        -   Peduncle.—grows to 17 cm tall, 4 mm wide at base, Greyed            Brown N199B, glandular hairs.        -   Pedicel.—variable, with glandular hairs, Greyed Purple 187A.        -   Bloom period.—May with sporadic rebloom in Canby, Oreg.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—2.5 mm wide and 4 mm long.        -   Description.—glandular puberulent, ovoid.        -   Color.—Yellow Green 150D with tip Yellow Green 151A.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—perfect.        -   Shape.—campanulate.        -   Size.—4 mm deep and 7 mm wide.        -   Petal description.—5 in number, lanceolate, 4 mm long and 1            mm wide, tip acuminate, base attenuate, margin entire,            glabrous on both sides, White NN155D on both sides.        -   Calyx description.—4 mm deep and 5 mm wide, with 5 lobes,            divided ¾ way to the base, campanulate, glandular hairs on            both sides, tip obtuse, margin entire, both sides NN155D            with Yellow Green 151A on lobe tips.        -   Stamen description.—10 in number, filaments 3 mm long, White            NN155D, anthers sterile, less than 1 mm, Greyed Orange            N167A.        -   Pistil description.—one central two beaked pistil, 4 mm long            and 2 mm wide, White NN155D.        -   Fragrance.—none.        -   Lastingness.—each raceme blooms for about 2 weeks on the            plant.-   Fruit and seed: none-   Disease and pest tolerance: The new cultivar is typical to the    genus. No known resistances to pests or diseases. No problems have    been found in Canby, Oreg.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Heucherella plant as herein illustratedand described.